Humidifier for radiators



Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,002

J. A. SPENCE HUMIDIFER FOR RADIATORS Filed 7, 1925 7' Patented Sept.. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES JAMES A. SPENCE, WINONA, MINNESOTA.

HUMIDIFIER FOR RADIATOBS.

application med December l7, 1925. serial No. 73,652.

This invention relates to humidifiers especially adapted for use on standard types of radiators in heating systems.

It is the main ob'ect of the invention to provide a simple an inexpensive but highly efliciet humidifier for a radiator adapted to be readily filled without the removal of .any parts therefrom, and capable of distributing vapor uniformly throughout a room.

Another object of the invention is to provide a humidilier in the form of an open bottomed hood adapted to be readily slipped over the top of a standard radiator. and carrying therein a s lidable trough spaced from the sides thereof adapted to be readily projected from one end of said hood for filling.

It is another'object to provide a humidij fier for a radiator which will not injure the surfaceof the wall adjacent a radiator and which will deliver vapor from the upper front side thereof.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a pluralityof removable wicks supported from. the top of said hood adapted to depend into the contents of the liquid receptacle supported therebelow.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters refer toI similar parts vthroughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention, some portions being broken away;

Fig. V2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation with some portions broken away; and

Fig. 4 'is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of one of the wicks detached.

A radiator of standard type is indicated by the letter A, comprising a plurality of inter-connected cells presenting the usual corrugated top surface. l

My improved humidifier comprises a substantially rectangular casing or hood 5, having its rear side 5a extended considerably below its front side to form a protective skirt for the surface of the wall behind the radiator. The hood 5, at its front side, is provided with an elongated horizontally extending delivery opening 6 extending preferably the length of hood 5. The top portion of said hood'is extended somewhat beyond the front side thereof and curved downwardly to form said passage, thereby being adapted to direct the humidified air putwardly and downwardly from the radia- A plurality of horizontally spaced U- shaped guide members 7 are supported from the top of hood 5 in alignment with the opening 8 through the upper portion of one of the ends of hood 5. A trough-like elongated liquid receptacle 9 is slidably carried by guide members 7 and the end portion of hood 5 about the opening 8, and has the flanged outer end 8a adapted to contact the adjacent end of hood 5 to limit the inward movementof said receptacle.

The slotted guide 10, illustrated as constructed from a single strip of material, is secured to the under side of the top of hood 5 and centrally aligned with liquid receptacle 9. A plurality of depending wicks 11 are removably supported in guide 10 with their lower ends in the liquid within receptacle 9. As shown in Fig. 4, these wicks may be simply made by sewing a piece of absorbent material about a small rod, thus formingan enlarged upper head adapted to be retained in guide 1 v The hood 5 is adapted to be l readily slipped over the top portion of a radiator, embracing the same, the U-shaped members 7 resting on the corrugated top portions of radiator A and thereby spacingthe top of hood 5 therefrom. Obviously, the receptacle or trough 9 may be readily pulled out for filling to the position indicated b v the dotted lines in Fig. 1, sliding in U-shaped members 7; or, if desired, may be removed from hood 5 for cleaning or repairing. lt will be noted that receptacle 9, being .disposed between the lbottoms of U-shaped members 7 and guide 10,is spaced from all sides of hood 5, thereby permitting a current of heated air to circulate about all sides and the top portions thereof.

rlhe mostened air is expelled through the elongated delivery opening 6 in the front of the hood, being directed downwardly and outwardly. This has proven to be of great eliiciency in uniformly humidifying a room,- since the expelled air containing a' relatively large percentage of moisture will tend to remain adjacent the floor of a room, thereby distributing more evenly.

From the above description Ait will be seen that v'applicant has invented a simple but highly eiiicient radiator humidifier of decorative appearance and provided with convenient means for refillin the yliquid receptacle concealed therewithln. The up` per portion of the radiator is enclosed, thereby collecting all the heated air and causing the same to pass about and over the liquid receptacle.

Extensive actual usage of the device has shown it highly successful for all the purposes enumerated. Careful tests have proven that not only can a much greater degree of humidity be obtained by the use of this humidifier, but that, moreover, a more even distribution of the moistened air is obtained without any damage to the wall paper or plaster of the room.

It Will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention. 4

The co-operation of the. Wicks with the hood and liquid receptacle is found to greatly improve the efficiency of the device, in-

asmuch as a considerale circulation of air passes between and about the Wicks beneath the hood.

What is claimed is:

1. A humidifier for radiators comprising an open bottomed hood adapted to it over the top portion of a radiator and provided with a delivery opening-therethrough,*guide means supported from the top portion of said hood adapted to engage the top of. a radiator to hold the top of said hood in spaced relation thereto', and a horizontally slidable liquid receptacle mounted in said guide means and projectable from one side of said hood. y

2. A humidifier for radiators comprising an open bottomedhood adapted to lit over the top portion of a radiator and having a dellvery passage through one side thereof, depending guide means supported from the top of said hood adapted to hold said hood in spaced relation to the top of' a radiator and a liquid receptacle slidahly mounted in said guide means and projectable from one s ide of said hood.

3. A humidifier for'radiators comprisingr an open bottomed hood adapted to enclose the top portion of a radiator and having a delivery opening throuo'h one side thereof', a liquid receptacle slidaily mounted within said hood and adapted to be projected or removed from one side thereof and a plurality of dependin U-shaped members carried by the top of sa1d hood and adapted to hold the same in spaced relation to the top of a radiator and constituting guides for said slidable receptacle.

4. A. humidifier for radiators comprising an open bottomed hood adapted to enclose the top portion .of a radiator, and having a delivery passage through one side thereof, a liquid receptacle mounted within the top portion of said hood and a depending wick supported from the to side of said hood in position to contact liquid within said receptaele.

5. A humidifier for radiators having in combination an open bottomed hood adapted to fitover the top portion of a radiator and provided with a delivery opening through one side thereof, a liquid receptacle disposed within the upper portion of said hood, and a plurality of depending wicks removably supported from the top side of said hood and adapted to contact the liquid within sald receptacle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES A. SPENCE. 

